On this and other Taoist blogs, the topic of wu wei (action/non-action, not forcing things, "going with the flow") is often discussed. While each blog tries to define this elusive concept in words and images, I realize that to the average person this may not be sufficient to grasp what we're referring to.
So, I thought a contemporary person -- one that resonates with a lot of people -- might prove beneficial. To wit, one way to better understand wu wei is to picture Tiger Woods standing over a putt to win a major golf championship.
First, he'll discuss the hole location with his long-time caddie Stevie Williams. Next, he'll do a walkaround, trying to get a "read" of any potential breaks along the route his ball must travel. He may have a bit more discussion with Williams. Once he feels he has all the necessary information, he'll take his putter and stand over the ball.
At this point, Tiger gets "in the zone". All of his countless hours of practice will allow him not to think his way through the shot; he'll do it more by feel. It will be Tiger, the ball and the hole -- tuning out entirely the millions of people watching him (in person and on TV). More often than not, he will sink the putt.
So, I thought a contemporary person -- one that resonates with a lot of people -- might prove beneficial. To wit, one way to better understand wu wei is to picture Tiger Woods standing over a putt to win a major golf championship.
First, he'll discuss the hole location with his long-time caddie Stevie Williams. Next, he'll do a walkaround, trying to get a "read" of any potential breaks along the route his ball must travel. He may have a bit more discussion with Williams. Once he feels he has all the necessary information, he'll take his putter and stand over the ball.
At this point, Tiger gets "in the zone". All of his countless hours of practice will allow him not to think his way through the shot; he'll do it more by feel. It will be Tiger, the ball and the hole -- tuning out entirely the millions of people watching him (in person and on TV). More often than not, he will sink the putt.
------------------------------------------------------
I'm going to digress for a moment because I don't want anyone to get the wrong impression that wu wei has anything to do with winning. I specifically chose Tiger Woods for this post because almost everyone knows who he is. Yet, despite the fact he's won 67 PGA tournaments, including 14 majors, in 13+ years, he fails more than he succeeds!
His best statistical year on the PGA Tour was in 2000 when he won 9 total tournaments, including 3 of the 4 majors. That year there were 49 official tournaments which means Tiger failed to win more than 80% of them. To be fair, he only entered 20 tournaments, so he failed to win 55% of the tournaments he entered.
This theme of failing more than succeeding can be seen in other sports too. Ty Cobb holds the record for highest career batting average - .366. While he has been hailed by many as one of the greatest hitters of all time -- he failed to get a hit nearly two-thirds of the time!
Parker Bohn III holds the Professional Bowling Association record for the highest average for a season -- 228.04. Since a perfect average would be 300, this means Bohn left standing an average of about 25% of the pins in each game.
In school -- at least in the old days -- you earned an A with 90% or above, a B with 80-89.9%, a C with 70-79.9%, a D with 60-69.9% and a big fat F for anything below 60%. In terms of scholastic achievement, Tiger Woods would have earned an F in 2000. Ty Cobb would have flunked out completely the first year and Bohn would have a C for his best year ever!
His best statistical year on the PGA Tour was in 2000 when he won 9 total tournaments, including 3 of the 4 majors. That year there were 49 official tournaments which means Tiger failed to win more than 80% of them. To be fair, he only entered 20 tournaments, so he failed to win 55% of the tournaments he entered.
This theme of failing more than succeeding can be seen in other sports too. Ty Cobb holds the record for highest career batting average - .366. While he has been hailed by many as one of the greatest hitters of all time -- he failed to get a hit nearly two-thirds of the time!
Parker Bohn III holds the Professional Bowling Association record for the highest average for a season -- 228.04. Since a perfect average would be 300, this means Bohn left standing an average of about 25% of the pins in each game.
In school -- at least in the old days -- you earned an A with 90% or above, a B with 80-89.9%, a C with 70-79.9%, a D with 60-69.9% and a big fat F for anything below 60%. In terms of scholastic achievement, Tiger Woods would have earned an F in 2000. Ty Cobb would have flunked out completely the first year and Bohn would have a C for his best year ever!
------------------------------------------------------
Any successful athlete (it's true in other professions as well) will tell you that, when they are achieving unmatched success, it's like they're in "the zone". The ball seems bigger or other people's movements appear slower or the distractions evaporate. Without consciously thinking about what they need to do, they simply do it.
This is the very essence of wu wei. Doing what is needed when it is needed without wasted actions.
This is the very essence of wu wei. Doing what is needed when it is needed without wasted actions.
I like this paraphrase from chapter 4 of the TTC
ReplyDelete"By doing nothing the universe breeds all the complexity we can imagine and more"
Wu Wei being the non intent of a flower to be beautiful and the non intent of a baby to put a smile on your face.
But, like anyone trying I fail :)
I do like the "in the zone" way of describing Wu Wei as it is clear to see in such a case that if Mr Woods did think during that brief moment he would surely miss.
It's like walking on a tightrope. As long as you're not really thinking about it, it's all good. However, the moment you say to yourself, "I can't believe I'm walking on a tightrope," and you look down, you fall. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a coincidence, today I just borrowed a book 'Dare to Fail'.
ReplyDeleteAnd what you said also reminded me a little of Josh Waitzkin, you know him? He was a chess whiz.
Nope. I had never heard of him. I did a Google search just now, so I see what you mean.
ReplyDeleteIt seems you have been posting like crazy today, making up for your short absence when you were with nature.
ReplyDeleteI will catch up on your posts soon.
I just had to pop back because I realised that two of my examples were not Wu Wei but Te.